Spout construction for diverter

ABSTRACT

The disclosure hereof is of a tub and shower fitting, and particularly the spout thereof for effecting control of the water flow into a bath tub or the like, either to the shower or to the tub by means of valve mechanism at the end of the spout, incorporating a pressure chamber therein in which a valve member moves upwardly and downwardly, under the control of a lift knob exterior of the spout, the valve member being maintained in upward position by the pressure of water exerted thereon and sealing means being provided therefor, the lower end of the valve member having a seal section cooperating with a seat opening, this seat opening is of smaller diameter than the head previously mentioned, a suitable venting means being provided to direct air above the head to facilitate breaking the seal and permitting the water to flow through the seat opening into the tub as alternately desired in operation.

United States Patent [191 Christiansen July 17, 1973 [75] Inventor:

[52] US. Cl. 137/119, 137/467 [51] Int. Cl. Fl6k 31/44 [58] Field of Search 137/119, 467; 4/148 [56] References Cited UNITED STATES PATENTS 10/1969 Mongerson 137/119 X 4/1972 Ward 137/119 X Primary Examiner-Robert G. Nilson AttorneyFrank B. Robb [57] ABSTRACT The disclosure hereof is of a tub and shower fitting, and particularly the spout thereof for effecting control of the water flow into a bath tub or the like, either to the shower or to the tub by means of valve mechanism at the end of the spout, incorporating a pressure chamber therein in which a valve member moves upwardly and downwardly, under the control of a lift knob exterior of the spout, the valve member being maintained in up ward position by the pressure of water exerted thereon and sealing means being provided therefor, the lower end of the valve member having a seal section cooperating with a seat opening, this seat opening is of smaller diameter than the head previously mentioned, a suitable venting means being provided to direct air above the head to facilitate breaking the seal and permitting the water to flow through the seat opening into the tub as alternately desired in operation. I

3 Claims, 7 Drawing Figures SPOUT CONSTRUCTION FOR DIVERTER OBJECTS OF THE INVENTION A principal object of this invention it to provide simplified diverter spout mechanism, which is associated with a tub and shower fitting, the spout mechanism including a sealing device operable by pressure acting in a pressure chamber at the end of the spout, and controlled by a knob extending above said spout, a suitable vent being provided to prevent an absolute seal from being established which would militate against movement of the control means into tub filling position.

Another object of the invention is to provide a simplifled form of valve mechanism including a valve member guided upwardly and downwardly at the end of a spout, in a pressure chamber, which valve member includes a simple sealing arrangement around the guide therefor, a seal at the lower outlet end of the spout being provided to prevent water from dripping into the tub, and control of the valve being facilitated by means of vents directed interiorly of the valve member to break a seal developed therewithin.

Another object of the invention is to provide a simplified form of mechanism which requires few parts, simply manufactured, relatively free from potential wear, and accessible when necessary both for initial manufacturing operations and ultimate replacement if required.

Other and further objects of the invention will be understood from a consideration of the specification appended hereto and disclosed in the drawing wherein:

FIG. 1 is a fragmentary view, partly in section, illustrating the usual relationship of a two-valve tub and shower fitting and diverter spout connected therewith.

FIG. 2 is an enlarged fragmentary sectional view of the mechanism forming a part of this invention.

FIG. 3 is an enlarged sectional view of the shut-off valve member used in the mechanism of FIG. 2.

FIG. 4 is an enlarged sectional view of a guide used in the construction in association with the shut-off valve member.

FIG. 5 is an enlarged sectional view showing the seat member at the outlet end of the spout.

FIG. 6 is a top plan view of the seat member of FIG. 5.

FIG. 7 is a fragmentary largely diagrammatic view showing a typical arrangement of tub and shower fitting, with spout and shower connected thereto.

DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION Referring now initially to FIG. 7, a typical two valve tub and shower fitting is indicated at 1, including the handle 2 for the hot water and the'handle 3 for the cold water, operating in valve members supplied by the usual supply pipes connected at 4 and 5 respetively, the fitting of FIG. 1 having a center piece from the upper end of which extends a shower pipe 6 terminating at 7 in a shower head.

Extending downwardly from the center piece of the fitting 1, is a suitable pipe 8 connected in any suitable manner as suggested in FIG. 1 to an elbow 9 leading through an outlet line I0.

The outlet line 10 supports thereon a spout involving a shell 11 at the end of which is a pressure chamber section 12, the pressure chamber section 12 incorporating a pressure chamber 13 therein which is of substantially cylindrical configuration and leads to the outlet end 14 of the spout 1 1, the outlet line 10 is threadedly engaged with the spout 11' at the pressure chamber section 12 by the threads 15.

Within the pressure chamber 13 there is positioned a guide means 16 shown in detail in FIG. 4, as comprising a tubular section 17, at the upper end of which are the threads 18 intermediate the sections 17 and 18 a shoulder off standing indicated at 19.

The threads 18 are engaged with corresponding comating threads 20 formed in the upper end of the pressure chamber section 12 as shown in FIGS. 1 and 2, and adapted to support thereon a shut-off valve member generally designated 21. The shut-off valve member 21, more particularly shown in detail in FIG. 3, includes a central tubular section 22 therefor, which is provided with a passage 23 interiorly thereof adapted to surround the guide means 16 and particularly the tubular section 17 thereof, the upper end of the tubular portion 22 of the valve member 21 being equipped with a head 24 of relatively greater diameter, which head is intended to be substantially the same diameter, or nearly the same diameter as the interior of the pressure chamber 13, and equipped atits periphery with a seat 25 adapted to coact with an O-ring 26 as shown in FIG. 1 for sealing purposes and in a manner to be subsequently set forth.

At the lower end of the valve member 21, the same is provided with a sealed section 27, which is formed by spaced ring-like extensions 28 and 29 and between whichis supported a flexible seal member 30, extending outwardly therefrom.

The valve member 21 is further provided at its lower extremity with a threaded section 31, adapted to engage a mating threaded portion 32 at the lower end of a lift stem 33, the lift stem having a handle or head or lift knob 34 at its upper extremity.

It will be apparent that by manipulating the knob 34 the valve member 21 may be raised and lowered.

Intermediate the threaded portion 31 and the sealed section 27, the valve member 21 is provided with vents 35 extending angularly into the interior of the tubular portion 22 for purposes which will be explained hereinafter.

Suitably positioned at the outlet end 14 of the spout which is equipped with threads 36, is a seat member 37 shown in detail in FIG. 5 as formed by a ring which is threaded at 38, and engaged at its upper end or formed integrally with a seat portion 39 in which is thereby provided an outlet opening 40.

As shown in FIG. 1, this seat member 37 is in position with the threads 38 thereon engaging with threads 36 in the outlet end 14 of the spout, and the other parts assembled as indicated.

Referring now to FIG. 2, it will be assumed that the parts previously described are in the position of that figure wherein the valve member 21 is in its lowermost position so to speak, as determined by the engagement of the knob 34 with the upper surface of the spout 11.

The guide means 16 is in place as indicated, to provide for guiding the seat member 21 upwardly and downwardly as the knob 34 is manipulated.

The O-ring 26 is about in a position shown in FIG. 2, but may float upwardly and downwardly slightly without interferring with the operation now being described.

Assuming that there is a desire to shut the water off from passing through the outlet line 10 into the pressure chamber 13, and out through the seat member 38,

the knob 34 is grasped and lifted upwardly so that the head 24 of the member 21 moves into the position shown in FIG. 1 with the periphery seat 25 in engagement with the O-ring 26.

At the same time, this will bring the seal 30 into the position of FIG. 1, with its peripheral upper surface 30a in engagement with the shoulder 38a of the seat memher.

This will clearly shut the water off from flowing outwardly through the outlet end of the spout, and the valve member 21 will be maintained in its upper or sealed condition by the pressure of water entering the chamber 13, and acting upon the undersurface of the head 24.

Since this surface is substantially larger than the seat opening provided between the tubular member 22 and the seat opening 40 in the seat 38, the pressure will maintain this closed condition of a valve member 21 so long as it is being exerted against the under side of the head 24.

However, under some circumstances, and where the tolerances and tits happen to work out just right, unless there were some means of introducing air into the interior of the tubular member 22, it would be almost impossible to break the seal produced by the engagement of the O-ring 26 with the seat 25.

.Therefore, the vents 35 are provided and these will permit air to flow upwardly inside the seat member 21, and permit the same to drop downwardly when the weight of the water is in the spout and less pressure is being exerted on the side of the head 24.

I claim:

1. In a tub and shower fitting of the class described, in combination, a main valve unit having a shower outlet and a tub outlet, and a spout connected to said tub outlet, said spout including a body having an outlet section at the outer end thereof, an outlet at said end, an outlet line extending from the unit to said section, said section being provided with a substantially cylindrical pressure chamber therein, guide means in said chamber, a lift stem extending upwardly therein and termia head at the upper end of similar diameter to the chamber, a central guide portion extending downwardly therefrom and a seal section at the lower end, a seat mounted in the outlet'aforesaid, a seat opening therein, the head having substantially greater area than the seat opening, sealing means for said head intermediate the chamber and head to prevent fluid leakage there around when the valve member is moved to shutoff position, vent means for said valve member to facilitate movement thereof when it is desired to direct flow from the shower outlet to the spout outlet, and a seat seal in the seat section to engage the seat opening therein simultaneously with the sealing action of the seal means, the vent means providing air to release said seal means when movement of the valve member is effected.

2. The combination as claimed in claim 1, wherein the pressure chamber is substantially vertical, the shutoff member includes a central guide portion surrounding the guide means, the head extends outwardly from said means, the seal means consists of an O-ring lying around the periphery of the head, and the seat seal is mounted in a groove in the seal section and extending outwardly therefrom, the vent means supplying air to the interior of the central guide portion of the valve member for the purpose stated. I

3. The combination as claimed in claim 1, wherein the valve member is movable upwardly and downwardly toward and from the spout shut-off position, fluid pressure directed to the shut-off chamber acting on the head of said member, causing said valve to be held in shut-off position, and termination of such pressure effecting movement of said valve to tub-filling position when air entering the vent means is directed above the said head. 

1. In a tub and shower fitting of the class described, in combination, a main valve unit having a shower outlet and a tub outlet, and a spout connected to said tub outlet, said spout including a body having an outlet section at the outer end thereof, an outlet at said end, an outlet line extending from the unit to said section, said section being provided with a substantially cylindrical pressure chamber therein, guide means in said chamber, a lift stem extending upwardly therein and terminating outside the said section, a knob on the upper end of the stem, a shut-off valve member connected to the stem and movable along the guide means to control the flow of liquid from the outlet end, said member having a head at the upper end of similar diameter to the chamber, a central guide portion extending downwardly therefrom and a seal section at the lower end, a seat mounted in the outlet aforesaid, a seat opening therein, the head having substantially greater area than the seat opening, sealing means for said head intermediate the chamber and head to prevent fluid leakage there around when the valve member is moved to shut-off position, vent means for said valve member to facilitate movement thereof when it is desired to direct flow from the shower outlet to the spout outlet, and a seat seal in the seat section to engage the seat opening therein simultaneously with the sealing action of the seal means, the vent means providing air to release said seal means when movement of the valve member is effected.
 2. The combination as claimed in claim 1, wherein the pressure chamber is substantially vertical, the shut-off member includes a central guide portion surrounding the guide means, the head extends outwardly from said means, the seal means consists of an O-ring lying around the periphery of the head, and the seat seal is mounted in a groove in the seal section and extending outwardly therefrom, the vent means supplying air to the interior of the central guide portion of the valve member for the purpose stated.
 3. The combination as claimed in claim 1, wherein the valve member is movable upwardly and downwardly toward and from the spout shut-off position, fluid pressure directed to the shut-off chamber acting on the head of said member, causing said valve to be held in shut-off position, and termination of such pressure effecting movement of said valve to tub-filling position when air entering the vent means is directed above the said head. 